Improvement in fence-posts



W. LANGHAM.

FENCE-POST.

No. v191,41-5. ratentedmy 29,187?,

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LANGHAM, OF OEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 191,446, dated May 29, 1877; application filed April 13, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LANGHAM, of Oedar Rapids, in the. county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts for Wire Fence, of Which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents a front View of my post; Fig. 2, a rear perspective of a section of the same, showing the manner of fastening the wire Fig. 3, a central vertical sectional view of the base of said post, and Fig. 4 an enlarged plan View of said post.

Similar letters ofrefcrence indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to so construct an iron fence-post as to comprise in it, in the greatest degree, the elements of simplicity, strength, and durability, at the same time making a post that can be easily and rapidly driven, and that shall be firm in .its place after driving, the whole being etfected with the least possible weight of metal.

The invention consists of a post the upper part of which is wrought-iron and the base' cast-iron. The Wrought-iron section is angulated in form, in the central rib of which are slots or recesses provided with a strip of metal, extending across the slot from the terminal points thereof, on a plane with the wire, to which the wire is fastened by means of a stapleinclosing both. I

To the above-described part is connected a cast-iron base, terminating in a point, its upper end forming or having a shoulder by which to drive the post into the ground.

A, Fig. 1, represents the shape into which the wrought-ron part of the post may be made, being (preferably) so formed that a line drawn from the extremities of the three ribs would nearly describe an equilateral triangle, thus securing great rigidity.

In the apex formed by bending the iron in the center are slots or recesses a a, Figs. 1 and 2, with the strip of metal c extending from the extremities of said slot across the same, and at right angles to the post, which strip may be formed from the metal pressed out in making the slot. Into the recess thus v made the wire O is secured by means of staple e, placed astride of both the wire and the strip c above mentioned.

B, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, represents the base of the post, which is tapered to facilitate driving, and for the same purpose is so made that its top or upper part presents a shoulder, t', which construction is designed both as a protection to the post from breaking or bonding, as is often the case where the blows are delivered on the top of the same, and as a convenience, the driver not requiring to be elevated above the ground in sinking the post.

It is not intended to limit the shape of the base to that herein described, but the same 'may be of any convenient form. The base being made thicker than those of posts now in use renders it more enduringwhen attacked with rust, while the lightness of the upper portion compensates for this added weight.

Having thus briefly described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fence-post, the pointed cast-metal base B and bent metal part A, rigidly secured thereto, and so conbined as to afford a driving-shoulder, i, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of post A, having slot a, and strip c, and staple e, adapted to be secured on wire C, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

This specification of my invention signed byme this 28th day of February, A. D. 1877.

` WM. LANGHAM.

Witnesses:

J. M. ST. J oHN, G. B. ST. J oHN. 

